The Taiga Motors Orca electric jet ski is the first mass-produced electric watercraft
Customers of the Orca electric jet ski will be receiving their new toy very soon as Taiga Motors has begun delivering their all-electric personal watercraft (PWC). With its distinctive hull design, quiet operation, and performance-oriented motor, the Canadian company seeks to revolutionize on-water powersports with the Orca.
Taiga Motors claims that they’ve created the “world’s first performance-focused, commercial, electric off-road powertrain, pioneering cutting-edge technology to electrify the off-road segment”. That drivetrain was initially put to the test on its electric snowmobiles before being modified and “fine-tuned” for the Orca.
The Orca electric jet ski is the first battery-powered PWC to go into mass production. Using the same unit as Taiga’s electric snowmobiles, the Orca has 160 horsepower (120 kW), which is more than enough to easily cut through the water. The difference is that the electric PWC’s powertrain runs silently in action.
Coming in three versions (Carbon, Sports, Performance), each full charge on the Orca’s 24 kwh battery provides up to 28 miles (45 kilometers) of usage. Level 2 charging allows for under 3.5 hours of total recharge time. Carbon, the most expensive Orca model, has Level 3 charging which will charge the battery to 80% in under 30 minutes.
Samuel Bruneau, the CEO of Taiga Motors, states that this is a significant time for the company because they’re making history by becoming the first company to mass-produce electric jet skis for the general public with the Orca. “Years of engineering and testing of our revolutionary electric powertrain platform in snow and water has now come full circle, truly changing how people connect with the outdoors,” said Bruneau.
Taiga is currently accepting orders for their new Orca electric jet ski through their Taiga Motors website. The entry-level “Sport” version costs $17,490 while the “Performance” edition costs $19,590. The top-of-the-line “Carbon” is priced at $26,500.
